Instrumentation for Three-Component Observations Using the Polarization Method

Abstract

The study of seismic waves involves the analysis of the vector of oscillations and, consequently, requires three-component observations. In the early stages of development of seismic exploration, as with seismology in general, three-component observations were the rule. However, with the introduction of the multi-channel recording of longitudinal reflected waves, practically all observations in seismic exploration were limited to the recording of the vertical component of oscillations. That is why for the last 30 to 40 years the development of the methodology and instrumentation for three-component observations has been practically at a standstill. At the same time specific problems and deficiencies in three-component observations largely discouraged research work based on the use of polarization of seismic waves. Intensification of research aimed at developing the polarization method has primarily involved a substantial improvement in instrumentation and procedures for making three-component observations. Such projects have been carried out in recent years at the Institute of Earth Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (IEP) in cooperation with KazVIRG and the ‘Krasnodarneftegeofizika’ Trust.